Bottom pulling belt for folding machine

ABSTRACT

An improved bottom pulling infeed system for a garment folding machine is described. The garment pulling belt assembly provides two individual garment pulling belts in spaced apart relation to each other. Each belt is supported by a plurality of rollers. The lower belt is synchronized with the upper belt, and the top belt includes first and second rollers. The bottom belt moves in a continuous clockwise rotation, while the upper belt moves in counterclockwise rotation. The lower conveyer belt is longer in its run which passes on its return trip through a tube. The tube extends along the entire length of the folding section of the machine, and is followed by a pair of stabilizing guide rollers. The tube insures that garments will not be caught up in the conveyor belt on their return trip.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/208,567, filed Jun. 2, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates generally to a garment folding machine. More specifically, the invention is an improved conveyor system adapted for folding garments within the path of motion without garment retrograde which produces garment deformations or ripplings hazardous to machine operation.

[0004] 2. Description of Related Art

[0005] Various different garment folding machines are available in the relevant market which purport to minimize garment rippling and the like, but are known to jam conveyor systems or negatively affect an operation's output to say the least. As with any production driven operation, down time is critical to an operation which determines profit solely by the principle of mass production. When garments become trapped within garment folding machinery a number of factors such as maintenance repair costs, contractual production delays, etc. contribute to the many losses in the market. This is particularly commonplace particularly in the competitive textile markets. As it relates solely to garment folding machines or machinery, which utilize the conveyor transport principle, garment rippling has been major cause for down time and subsequently a contributing element to profit losses. An improved garment folding machine which utilizes the pulling belt technique as herein described is lacking for virtually alleviating the problem of garment retrograde which contributes to the aforementioned problems.

[0006] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,106,260, issued to King, discloses an article folding an packaging system for folding and packaging articles such as towels or T-shirts, wherein the article is partially folded over a cardboard insert and conveyed along a path at a selected speed through various folding locations until the article is folded, flattened, pressed, rotated if necessary, and inserted into a bag which is subsequently sealed. The apparatus for performing such function includes a reciprocating entry section for receiving one or more articles.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 3,806,007, discusses a folder for folding garments such as T-shirts, with means for inserting cards in the T-shirts and folding the T-shirts about the cards; means for placing a group, such as three, folded T-shirts in a package and selectively inserting cards in one or more of the T-shirts in such package in the formation thereof.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 3,310,207, issued to Gore, discloses an apparatus for averting and folding a pillowcase, bag, or the like comprising means for averting the pillowcase from the wrong-side-out position to a right-side-out position, first conveyor means operatively associated with the averting means to cooperate therewith for averting the pillowcase and for conveying the averted pillowcase from the averting means, and a second conveyor and folding means operatively associated with the first conveyor means for cooperating therewith to form a first fold in the pillowcase and for receiving and conveying the thus folded pillowcase from the first conveyor means.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 3,790,156, issued to Hogendyk, relates to a folding machine and specifically to an apparatus for folding textile or like products in a serpentine or sinuous fashion. Textile products, after having been processed and normalized in the conventional fashion, may be folded for storage, shipment, or further processing purposes. This is accomplished in a folding machine having a pair of rollers arranged for reciprocating movement above a table surface to lay the fabric in a serpentine fashion on the table. The reciprocating rollers are driven by a pair of drive wheels at the ends of the rollers and mounted in horizontal track members having top and bottom drive wheel engaging surfaces.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 3,828,989, issued to Heater, discusses an apparatus for folding a T-shirt or other textile articles. the article is folded in from opposite sides over the top of these guide plates by overlying folding plates with inner folding edges that converge toward one another.

[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 3,984,036, issued to Fritschi, relates to an apparatus for assisting an individual to fold and pleat a sheet, blanket or the like, comprising a wall-mounted console, having a pair of relatively movable clamping elements associated with a manually movable spring structure arranged to hold the clamping elements either in clamping engagement with one another or in predetermined spaced relation to one another.

[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 4,234,179, issued to Weir, presents a laundry folding machine for imparting initial folds to an article wherein the article is fed from a first conveyor to a second conveyor across a fold gap which is bridged. U.S. Pat. No. 4,460,111, issued to Nakahira, discusses an apparatus for turning a circular knit hose inside out and sectioning the same into unit hoses comprising a pair of contact rollers carried on a carrier capable reciprocally moving along an air suction pipe extending in the direction of the knit hose.

[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,977, issued to Buxton, discloses an apparatus for folding spaced segments of web material comprising a continuously moving belt system for gripping one surface of a planar web except for the flap portions and a frictionalized belt system aligned with the vacuumnized belt system for engaging the other surface of the web.

[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 4,694,978, presents an apparatus and method for simultaneously inverting, folding, and pleating including a plunger that is reciprocative through a tube member. And U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,565, issued to Karolyi, relates to a method and apparatus for folding textile materials wherein a textile material is transferred by an upstream conveyor to a downstream belt conveyor such that a front end of the material rests on the downstream conveyor and a rear end thereof rests on the upstream conveyor.

[0015] U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,861, issued to Propach, discloses a method and device for folding hosiery items., wherein the hosiery items are wrapped about a folding card and are folded together with the folding card, against an inclined belt at an acute angle relative to a lower belt, with the trailing portion of the hosiery item resting on that lower belt. And finally, the British Patent (BR 764,611) granted to Dehn, discloses a garment folding machine.

[0016] None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The garment pulling belt, according to the present invention, provides an improved inlet means for supplying a garment to a conventional garment folding machines. Folding machines currently in use, generally include an inlet aaparatus wherein a single belt frictionally engages with the material substrate of the garment being folded, in order, to carry the garment through a folding plate assembly. However, the garment pulling belt assembly of the present invention provides two individual garment pulling belts in spaced apart relation to each other to ensure proper folding without garment retrograde. As in conventional machines, the folding unit includes at least one folding blade located between the garment pulling belts.

[0018] The garment folding machine according to the invention provides a solution to the problem of garment retrograde by providing a tunnel belt which allows the material to be pulled from the bottom as well as from the top. This eliminates any stoppage of material as well as eliminates any problem due to the texture of the bottom surface. The dual belt system is supported by a frame which may be rigidly connected to the underlying support plate of the machine and is supported by a plurality of rollers. Each of the support rollers is mounted with an axis of rotation extending perpendicular to the length of the belts. In conventional folding machines, human intervention is required to make adjustments by adding weight to the belt or pushing upwards on the underlying support plate. The garment inlet includes a belt system running on rollers driven by a suitable driver such as a motor.

[0019] Each belt is supported by a plurality of rollers, the lower belt is synchronized with the upper belt. The top belt preferably includes first and second rollers with the bottom belt moving in a continuous clockwise rotation, while the upper belt moves in counterclockwise rotation. However, the lower conveyer is somewhat longer in its run, passing on its return trip through a tube, which extends along the entire length of the folding section of the machine. It is followed by a pair of stabilizing guide rollers, which allows the belt to extend first downwardly and then upwardly before returning through the folding section of the apparatus of the invention. The tube ensures that garments will not be caught up in the conveyor belt on its return trip.

[0020] Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide an improved apparatus for folding textiles.

[0021] It is another object of the invention to provide a more efficient infeed system for garment folding machines.

[0022] It is a further object of the invention to provide an infeed system for a garment folding machine which requires less adjustments, is easier to operate, and practically eliminates the tearing off of hangtags.

[0023] It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

[0024] These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025]FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a bottom pulling belt for garment folding machine according to the present invention.

[0026]FIG. 2 is a enlarged side view of the rear portion of the bottom pulling belt.

[0027]FIG. 3 is a side view of a prior art article folding and packaging system.

[0028]FIG. 4 is a rear view of the bottom pulling belt, according to the invention.

[0029] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0030] The present invention is directed to a garment pulling belt for garment folding machines. The preferred embodiment of the invention is depicted in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, and a prior art reference 8, over which the present invention is an improvement, is depicted in FIG. 3.

[0031] As diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 1, the garment pulling belt assembly 10, provides an improved inlet means 12 for supplying a garment 14 through a garment folding machine. Machines currently in use, such as the apparatus 8 depicted in FIG. 3, generally include an inlet means 30 wherein a single belt 32 is responsible for frictionally engaging with a material substrate of the garment being folded in order to carry the garment 14 through a folding plate assembly 36.

[0032] Accordingly, the improved garment pulling belt system 4 for garment folding machinery as diagrammatically illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 comprises the inlet means 12 for supplying the garment to a garment folding machine, said inlet means 12 includes at least one folding path 16. The at least one first folding path 16 being bound by an upper 18 and lower 20 rotating element and being adjacent to another folding path 17 wherein proximate the first folding path 16 and continuous with the other adjacent folding path 17, there is formed a single belt 21 which frictionally engages a material substrate of the garment being folded within the first path 16 in order to carry the garment 14 through a folding belt or plate assembly 22. The single belt 21 further comprises an anti-retrograde contact surface 24 for conveying a bottom portion of the garment through the at least one first folding path 16, and wherein the surface 24 of the belt 21 is engaged with another distinct belt 23 for conveying a top portion of the garment through the at least one first folding path 16 in spaced apart relation to each other or with respect to belt 21 having a predetermined clearance therebetween. The clearance being determined to reduce oscillatory motions or vibrations which may contribute to garment 14 retrograde. This potential of this phenomena is further reduced wherein the garment folding machine 4 includes a means or tunnel belt 40 disposed on the single belt 21 parallel to the at least one first folding path 16 and co-linear with the other folding path 17 which allows the material 14 to be pulled from the bottom as well as from the top to eliminate stoppage or retrograde motion of material 14 therebetween. The is preferably a substantially rectangular material tunnel made of a light-weight plastic, composite plastic or rigid metal material.

[0033] Conventional apparatuses, such as that commonly known in the art and depicted in FIG. 3, are generally adapted to operate continuously at a pre-selected speed. T-shirts, or other garments, are inserted into the machine section for longitudinally folding by folded plates located therein. Support means are provided below the belt feed for supporting a cardboard insert and any T-shirts fed into the machine. Typically, the support means comprises a thin, polished, teflon or metallic plate around which the shirt is folded. The polished plate is generally supported by central platform attached to the machine frame. The central platform is positioned adjacent the vertical feed belts and the plate secured thereto in cantilevered fashion downstream of the machine for the entire length of the article folding blades, which are dimensioned to receive and progressively fold the T-shirt as it is advanced by the belt. After being folded, the T-shirt is deposited upon the displaceable feed tray by the feed conveyor, to carry the T-shirt to parts of the machine to be finished.

[0034] A frequent problem arises in conventionally available machines in that, due to the frictional effects of the material substrate of the garments with the belts of the machine—material with a rough or sticky bottom tends to get bunched up in the machine. Also at the infeed or inlet section or means, any hangtags on the material of the garment have a tendency to be torn off. Furthermore, the larger the garment the harder it is to fold due to the amount of material that has to be folded. A portion of the material can become stuck while the rest of the garment continues to go through the machine. This can damage the material or cause it to be misfolded.

[0035] Through the addition of a second infeed belt 23 according to the invention, most adjustments which were required of garment folding machines in the past are eliminated. The garment pulling belt for garment folding machines represents a solution by providing an infeed belt which allows the material substrate of the garment to be pulled from the bottom as well as from the top. This eliminates any stoppage of material as well as eliminates any problem due to the texture of the bottom surface.

[0036] In many similar inventions of the prior art, imprinted decals on garments caused them to bunch up when passing through the infeed section of these machines having only one infeed pulling belt. Through the addition of a parallel infeed belt, the problem of hangtags being ripped off is practically eliminated, as well as need for refolding due to misfolds, thereby increasing the production rate. When you increase or decrease the size of the material being run through the machine, it can take a long time to make the adjustments to maintain a constant fold. The bottom pulling belt will help to eliminate most of the adjustments because they are made due to slippage or stoppage of the material. By making the garment move more smoothly through the garment folding machine, it makes for a better fold.

[0037] The dual belt infeed system is supported by a frame which is preferably rigidly connected to the underlying support plate of the machine and is supported by a plurality of rollers. Each of the support rollers is mounted with an axis of rotation extending perpendicular to the length of the belts and. In the prior art one had to make adjustments by adding weight to the belt or pushing upwards on the underlying support plate. The top belt preferably runs on two rollers, while the bottom belt preferably runs on four rollers.

[0038] The inlet means 12 includes belt means running on rollers driven through by a suitable driver such as a motor (not shown). The motor may drive other elements of the machine. As in conventional machines, the folding unit includes at least one folding blade (not shown). The lower belt 21 is synchronized with the upper belt 23, such that the bottom belt moves in a continuous clockwise rotation, while the upper belt moves in counterclockwise rotation as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 1. However, the lower conveyer is somewhat longer in its run, passing on its return trip through an elongated tube, which extends along the entire length of the folding section of the machine. The tube insures that garments will not be caught up in the conveyor belt on its return trip.

[0039] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims. 

I claim:
 1. An improved garment pulling belt for garment folding machinery driven by a plurality of rollers, comprising: an inlet means for supplying a garment to a garment folding machines, said inlet means includes at least one folding path, said at least one first folding path being bound by an upper and lower rotating element and being adjacent to another folding path wherein proximate the first folding path and the adjacent second folding path, there being a single belt which frictionally engages a material substrate of the garment being folded in order to carry the garment through a folding plate assembly, said single belt further comprising a anti-retrograde contact surface for conveying a bottom portion of said garment through the at least one first folding path, and being engaged with another distinct belt for conveying a top portion of said garment through the at least one first folding path in spaced apart relation to each other, and wherein the garment folding machine includes a means for reducing garment retrograde through said at least one first folding path and said another folding path.
 2. The improved garment pulling belt according to claim 1 , wherein said means for reducing garment retrograde is a tunnel belt disposed on said single belt parallel to said at least one first folding path and co-linear with said another folding path which allows the material to be pulled from the bottom as well as from the top to eliminate stoppage of material therebetween.
 3. The improved garment pulling belt according to claim 1 , wherein said means for reducing garment retrograde is supported by rollers mounted with an axis of rotation extending perpendicular to the length of the belts and pushing upwards on an underlying support plate, said inlet means includes a set of synchronized motor driven rollers.
 4. An improved garment pulling belt, comprising in combination with a garment folding machine having a plurality of rollers, comprising: an inlet means for supplying a garment to a garment folding machines, said inlet means includes at least one folding path, said at least one first folding path being bound by an upper and lower rotating element and being adjacent to another folding path wherein proximate the first folding path and the adjacent second folding path, there being a single belt which frictionally engages a material substrate of the garment being folded in order to carry the garment through a folding plate assembly, said single belt further comprising a anti-retrograde contact surface for conveying a bottom portion of said garment through the at least one first folding path, and being engaged with another distinct belt for conveying a top portion of said garment through the at least one first folding path in spaced apart relation to each other, and wherein the garment folding machine includes a means for reducing garment retrograde through said at least one first folding path and said another folding path.
 5. The improved garment pulling belt according to claim 4 , wherein said means for reducing garment retrograde is a tunnel belt disposed on said single belt parallel to said at least one first folding path and co-linear with said another folding path which allows the material to be pulled from the bottom as well as from the top to eliminate stoppage of material therebetween.
 6. The improved garment pulling belt according to claim 4 , wherein said means for reducing garment retrograde is supported by rollers mounted with an axis of rotation extending perpendicular to the length of the belts and pushing upwards on an underlying support plate, said inlet means includes a set of synchronized motor driven rollers. 